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Topic Review (Newest First)

03-07-2014 02:24 PM

Galathiel

I will say that my pup is a turkey in home settings when he visits or people visit. Constantly reminding him what to do to get attention....<Sit>. It's out in public that he has calmed down quite a bit.

My puppy is about 22 1/2 months, and I really think he is a lab. He loves people and just wags his tail and is happy. One time in his life he barked when somebody came to the door. My husband felt the guy was a really suspicious character, and I don't know if he barked because he also thought so or if he sensed my husband was leery.

I'm hoping mine would do the same if the situation ever came to hand. The only time I've heard my dog bark is into one of the air vents... which is odd. And occasionally when the yorkie is bullying her. Other than that she's pretty silent!

Put her in a sit and ask someone to approach her. If she gets up they stop advancing. Only when she is sitting nicely does she get the attention.

Most GSD's will alert bark with strangers, but sometimes you just get one that loves everyone. While my preference would also be that they are aloof with strangers, I'd much rather see (especially in a puppy) a dog who's friendly toward strangers than not.

Perhaps your dog would do well as a therapy dog? (Once the proper greeting is trained, of course)

I've never considered that before. As friendly as she is that would probably be a job for her. I may look into that!

03-07-2014 02:18 PM

Lark

My puppy is about 22 1/2 months, and I really think he is a lab. He loves people and just wags his tail and is happy. One time in his life he barked when somebody came to the door. My husband felt the guy was a really suspicious character, and I don't know if he barked because he also thought so or if he sensed my husband was leery.

03-07-2014 02:15 PM

blackshep

This is easy to practice!

Put her in a sit and ask someone to approach her. If she gets up they stop advancing. Only when she is sitting nicely does she get the attention.

Most GSD's will alert bark with strangers, but sometimes you just get one that loves everyone. While my preference would also be that they are aloof with strangers, I'd much rather see (especially in a puppy) a dog who's friendly toward strangers than not.

Perhaps your dog would do well as a therapy dog? (Once the proper greeting is trained, of course)

My pup (11 months old now) does like people. On leash, he's actually matured to be fairly calm on greetings. However, that doesn't mean he doesn't alert when a stranger pulls up. He has quite a bark and since his back hair (only his back hair .. nice Mohawk) is probably 3-4 inches long, he looks a LOT bigger when excited. However, once we approach the person (it was a technician for my downed cable), he just stood there with his tail gently waving. It may change as he matures as he is pretty immature still, but for now .. not bad for a puppy to NOT see people as threats when out and about.

My dog isn't quite that alert yet! Usually she'll only take notice when somebody walks into the house, even then she won't bark. She does have a nice bark though, even if she seldom uses it! I need to work on getting her to be calm on greetings as your dog. It's like when she seems somebody she goes crazy and has to have their attention. The odd thing is, she is very calm around people who she has met but to anybody she hasn't she goes crazy!

The way I learned it was to keep a training line on your dog, have some really high value treats with you, or a toy.

Your recall word should only be used when you know 100% that you can get the dog back to you (you have it on a line). They must never learn that not getting back to you is even an option to them.

I use 'come' as my informal command, like when I'm around the house and want to give her a brushing or whatever. My recall is 'here!' and that means 'get your butt over here as fast as your legs will carry you'

When I give the recall command, we were told to make sure we have the training line on the dog. I say "HERE!!" and I go to give a quick pop on the collar a split second later. The reason for popping the collar, is that if they are not on their way back to you they will be corrected, but if they are running back to you, the slack in the line will prevent any correction. Have a total party with treats and/or toys when the dog is sitting squarely in front of you.

The other thing they had us work on was in addition to them running back and sitting in front, they would have use offer treats as we gently took hold of the collar, just because some dogs will run back, but then try to 'avoid capture'.

Never use your recall word if the dog isn't on the line, they must never know that not returning is an option. If they get out and are not on a line, I'd switch to your informal recall, but still have a party if they return to you.

And even if they aren't obedient at first, never punish them for coming back to you, even if you feel like you want to kill them. They are always rewarded for coming back.

Your dog sounds really sweet, I would not try to make her weary of strangers, the last thing you want is a fearful dog.

That does sound like a very good technique. I will definitely invest in more "new" treats and a long training line.

I have been told many times a friendly pup is a good thing. and while she is friendly towards humans she seems to be timid around other dogs. I have a yorkie who is a tenth of her size, yet if the yorkie so much as barks at her she lowers her head and runs away. Its pretty funny.

Thanks for the advice, I'm looking forward to the training!

03-07-2014 01:46 PM

Galathiel

My pup (11 months old now) does like people. On leash, he's actually matured to be fairly calm on greetings. However, that doesn't mean he doesn't alert when a stranger pulls up. He has quite a bark and since his back hair (only his back hair .. nice Mohawk) is probably 3-4 inches long, he looks a LOT bigger when excited. However, once we approach the person (it was a technician for my downed cable), he just stood there with his tail gently waving. It may change as he matures as he is pretty immature still, but for now .. not bad for a puppy to NOT see people as threats when out and about.

03-07-2014 01:30 PM

blackshep

The way I learned it was to keep a training line on your dog, have some really high value treats with you, or a toy.

Your recall word should only be used when you know 100% that you can get the dog back to you (you have it on a line). They must never learn that not getting back to you is even an option to them.

I use 'come' as my informal command, like when I'm around the house and want to give her a brushing or whatever. My recall is 'here!' and that means 'get your butt over here as fast as your legs will carry you'

When I give the recall command, we were told to make sure we have the training line on the dog. I say "HERE!!" and I go to give a quick pop on the collar a split second later. The reason for popping the collar, is that if they are not on their way back to you they will be corrected, but if they are running back to you, the slack in the line will prevent any correction. Have a total party with treats and/or toys when the dog is sitting squarely in front of you.

The other thing they had us work on was in addition to them running back and sitting in front, they would have use offer treats as we gently took hold of the collar, just because some dogs will run back, but then try to 'avoid capture'.

Never use your recall word if the dog isn't on the line, they must never know that not returning is an option. If they get out and are not on a line, I'd switch to your informal recall, but still have a party if they return to you.

And even if they aren't obedient at first, never punish them for coming back to you, even if you feel like you want to kill them. They are always rewarded for coming back.

Your dog sounds really sweet, I would not try to make her weary of strangers, the last thing you want is a fearful dog.

03-07-2014 01:24 PM

Courtney

IMO - sounds like you have a well rounded pup. I prefer a social pup like you have. At this stage with a young and maturing body and mind what is there for the pup to be concerned with? I would be more concerned with a over suspicious pup of strangers at this age.

Leaving the yard is a training issue which you will have to work on. Try a super long lead. Right now she has not earned the freedom to be off leash in the yard.

Good luck.

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